Cactaceae plant named &#39;Rio&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of the Cactaceae family produced by a controlled cross named ‘Rio’. ‘Rio’ has a strong growth habit, a “red” colored bloom, a strong propensity to branc with minimal pruning, erect stems, and blooming flowers that last for two weeks on the plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofthe Cactaceae family. The new variety is a Hatiora hybrid named ‘RIO’ bythe inventor. The inventor is Dr. Thomas Boyle of the University ofMassachusetts, residing in Amherst, Mass., a citizen of the UnitedStates.

[0002] Many members of the Cactaceae family can be forced to bloom inthe Northern Hemisphere in the winter. Because they can bloom in thewinter there is a large market for these varieties.

[0003] This new variety was produced by the inventor by a controlledcross. The new variety is a triploid form derived in part from thediploid Hatiora commercial cultivar ‘Evita’. ‘Evita’ was developed by J.de Vries Potplantencultures bv, Aalsmeer, the Netherlands and releasedin 1983.

[0004] The inventor developed the triploid seedling from crossing atetraploid Hatiora gaertneri clone (female parent) with the diploidHatiora cultivar ‘Evita’ (male/pollen parent). Neither parent ispatented in the United States. The ploidy level of ‘Rio’ (triploid) wasdetermined at the University of Massachusetts from chromosome counts ofimmature flower buds and root tips.

[0005] The overall red appearance of the flower is due to the generallyeven-toned color of its tepals.

[0006] The distinguishing characteristics of the new variety areretained by asexually reproduced, successive generations.

[0007] The new variety possesses the desirable characteristics of:

[0008] 1. a strong growth habit with erect stems;

[0009] 2. a “red” colored bloom;

[0010] 3. relatively large flowers;

[0011] 4. a strong propensity to branch with minimal pruning; and

[0012] 5. a strong resistance to fungal diseases.

[0013] Blooming flowers on the plant can last as long as two weeks attemperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperaturesslow down the rate at which buds mature into flowers. Strong light isalso necessary for bud development.

[0014] The new variety has asexually reproduced by the inventor andunder the direction of the inventor at a commercial nursery in Half MoonBay, Calif. The new variety has been asexually reproduced through threesuccessive generations by cuttings, and it has been found that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed remain firmly fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The accompanying drawings serve, by color photographic means, toillustrate the new plant variety. The colors are represented as truly aspossible using conventional photographic procedures.

[0016]FIG. 1 is a color photograph of several individuals of the newvariety illustrating the overall appearance and form of the plants, andthe abundance of blooms, when grown in a single pot for commercial sale.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a color photograph of several individual flowers of thenew variety illustrating the appearance of the bloom in various stages.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a color photograph of one individual plant grown forcommercial sale removed from its soil.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a color photograph of an individual plant with all butone of the phylloclades removed from the cutting that was originallyplanted to show the branching of, upper phylloclades on an individualgrown for commercial sale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0020] The following is a detailed description of the new variety. Thenew variety has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. Color designation and other values may deviate slightly fromthe stated values from flowering to flowering, but the deviations willbe within the range expected from varying environmental, seasonal andcultural conditions. Color designations were made according to theR.H.S. Color Chart published by The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England.

[0021] The plants observed were grown in 6″ pots. The plants wereapproximately 14 months old

[0022] The tallest plants were approximately 9″ high, other plants were8″ to 7.5″ high, the plants observed had been pruned back once asdescribed below. There were typically 6 or 7 cuttings placed in eachpot. Some cuttings had five levels of phylloclades, including the basalphylloclade that was inserted in the dirt, with buds at the top of thehighest phylloclades. Most other plants had 4 levels of phyllocladeswith buds growing on the highest phylloclades.

[0023] The following description is based on observations of optimallyfertilized plants. The plants were also treated with fungicides andpesticides.

[0024] The plants were started in green houses at a commercial nurseryin Half Moon Bay, Calif. Temperatures in Half Moon Bay on average rangefrom 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, and from 45 to 55degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months.

[0025] The plants started as cuttings taken as entire phylloclades.Cuttings were dried in flats for four weeks to harden. 6 to 7 cuttingswere then placed in the same pot. The cuttings were kept under glasswhile they were rooting. At night, the plants were kept at an averagetemperature of approximately 64 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the day,the plants were allowed to get as hot as 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.Cuttings generally take a month to begin producing roots and thenanother month to fully root.

[0026] When the plants were between five and eight months old, when thenew variety had produced three new levels of phylloclades, the topphylloclades were topped or broken from the stems by twisting.

[0027] Then, when plants were at an appropriate height for commercialsale, the plants were moved outside to be exposed to colder temperaturesfor at least two months. Under the conditions in Half Moon Bay, theexposure to colder temperatures initiates bud formation without havingto keep them under glass where day length can be shortened.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

[0028] Name: ‘RIO’.

[0029] Parentage:

[0030]Female parent.—Hatiora gaertneri clone.

[0031]Male/pollen parent.—Hatiora commercial cultivar ‘Evita’. ‘Evita’was developed by J. de Vries Potplantencultures bv, Aalsmeer, theNetherlands and released in 1983.

[0032] Classification:

[0033]Family.—Cactaceae.

[0034]Species.—Hatiora×graeseri Barthlott ex D. Hunt.

[0035] Form: Terrestrial, shade-loving, succulent, leafless plant withjointed and branched stems.

[0036] Stems:

[0037]General.—Irregular stems of multi-branching upright,adventitiously rootable, flattened phylloclades that have a prominentmidrib. Plants observed had stems that generally consisted of 4 levelsof phylloclades, with as many as 6 phylloclades (more commonly 4 or 5)growing from apex of phylloclades at first and second levels, with lessat upper levels. The flattened phylloclades have a prominent midrib(especially in phylloclades at the base of mature plants) and weaklytoothed lateral wings. Plants observed were 8 to 9″ high.

[0038]Phylloclades.—General: Mature phylloclades are generally oblong,elongated, and flattened with wings, and have a transversely elongated,areole bearing, truncated apex. From the transversely elongated apex,the wing margins generally run straight or taper slightly to the basalportions (or occasionally they flare outwardly somewhat), where theythen taper and merge through a pointed, basal juncture with thephylloclade therebelow, The margins of the wings are also weakly toothedor weakly crenate and an axillary areole is associated with each blunttooth. Immature phylloclades are often not flattened, but four-angled,having multiple ribs terminating at axillary areoles. The apex of thephylloclade is transversely elongated, and areole bearing with compoundareoles. The lateral margins typically have 4 to 5 alternately spacedaxillary areoles. Midrib: Prominent midrib extends longitudinally ofphylloclade and continuously through joints. Texture: Phylloclades havea smooth, waxy epidermis. Wax in basal phylloclades and phyllocladesinserted in the ground becoming thick, corky and translucent with age.First phylloclade above basal phylloclade will often have thick corkywax at its base and along up its midrib part way. Size: Phylloclades areusually between 40 mm and 55 mm long, with some as short as 20 mm.Phylloclades bearing flowers can be as short as 32 mm long. Phyllocladesare generally 2 mm thick at the midrib, and tapering to 1 mm thick atthe margins. Phylloclades are generally 13 to 25 mm at their widestpoint. Color: Mature phylloclades are R.H.S. 137A while immaturephylloclades are a brighter green: R.H.S. 137C. Some phylloclades canhave dark margins, with the midrib and base of the phylloclade beinglighter. Areoles: Terminal areole — Large, compound, elongated,oval-shaped with several acicular bristles, copious multi-cellularhairs, and several buds that may mature into either new phylloclades orflowers. The opposite ends of the areole are located adjacent tosubsidiary areoles which are in turn located at the axils of theuppermost blunt teeth located at the distal end of the of phylloclade.The acicular bristles are mostly upright (some bent) bristles in clumpswhich can be as long as 7 mm and as short as 4 mm. Lateral margins ofphylloclade at terminal areole exposed to sun can be very red. Axiallaryareoles — Typically there are 4 axial areoles on one side of thephylloclade and five on the other, with the areoles alternating.Typically these areoles have 3 to 4 acicular bristles without glochidia,especially in the upper areoles. Uppermost axiallary areoles also haveshort hair. Bristles of the axiallary areoles are often shorter than thebristles of areole at the apex of the phylloclade. Blunt teeth are alsofound with the axiallary areoles.

[0039] Buds:

[0040]General.—Unarmored and ovid. Color of tepals of buds are generallyR.H.S. 46 A (red group). From 1 to 6 flower buds can form on theelongated terminal areole of the uppermost phylloclades. Most of thebuds on the uppermost phylloclades will fall of the plant before theflowers bloom; however, when the plant is in full bloom it is common forthe uppermost phylloclade to have 2 or more buds of different sizes andage, often with 2 being of similar age and opening simultaneously. Somebuds growing in first axiallary areole. Some buds will also form on thesecond highest phylloclade of a branch, sometimes as many as three, butmore typically 1 or 2.

[0041] Flowers:

[0042]General.—Sessile, actinomorphic, terminal, perfect and epigynouswith tepals (undifferentiated whorled sepals and petals) having a spiralemergence as a perianth. Perianth, androecium and gynoecium separateeasily from ovary when pulled from the ovary, but if undisturbed willwither attached to the ovary.

[0043]Perianth.—General: Free, whorled tepals inserted on top of theovary. Tepals become more reflexed as the flower ages. When the floweris mature there are often 5 very small sepals whose color ranges fromR.H.S 46 A (red group) to R.H.S 175 B (greyed-orange group). As many as21 tepals on a flower. Shape: Lanceolate with entire margins and veryacute tips. Texture: Glabrous. Size: Largest tepals of mature flower is4 cm. Fully opened flower generally has a diameter of 5 cm. Color:Tepals are thin. Tepals are uniformly dark. Overall color appearance oftepals is R.H.S. 45 A (red group). Older tepals on abaxial side becomeR.H.S. 51 1 (red group).

[0044]Androecium (stamens).—General: Numerous stamens (often more than70) with outermost stamens having filaments basally fused to theperianth. Filaments are basally attached to the anther. Stamens areinserted with respect to the sepals, but become exserted as the tepalsbecome reflexed. Color: Filaments are mostly R.H.S. 74B and are darkerthan the perianth, but are white at top. Pollen color: R.H.S. 21A.Texture: Filament is glabrous. Size: Stamen filaments s areapproximately 10 to 19 mm long, and the anthers are approximately 1 mmlong.

[0045]Gynoecium (pistil).—General: Compound ovary with parietalplacentation (generally 5 carpels), having a united style, that is ofequal length as stamens, and inserted in tepals, but becoming exsertedas tepals become reflexed. Style: White with some purple and 23 mm long.Glabrous and without hairs. Stigma: Erect and become reflexed as it ageswith usually 5 lobes (but there can be as many as 8 lobes) that are alsowhite on the abaxial side and having purple on the adaxial side. Ovary:General — Compound ovary with a single cavity and parietal placentationand generally 5 carpels, with numerous ovules. The ovary is inferior andobovate to terete with five angles and generally broadening frominsertion to floral end. Generally, mature ovaries have a diameter ofabout 7 mm. Color — R.H.S. 46A (red group) to 175 B (greyed-orangegroup).

[0046]Bloom life.—New buds may appear and flower on plants that bloomedin January as late as June. Individual flowers last for 10 to 14 days.Plants appear to be in full bloom for approximately 20 days, when theyare forced to bloom in January. Over the 20 day period, individualflowers open in the morning and close slightly at night, closing lessand less with each day, and the tepals become more reflexed. As theflowers age, the tepals become dessicated but remain attached to theovary. Tepals and ovary eventually fall off phylloclade together.

[0047]Fruit.—General: ovaries wither and fall from phylloclades withflower.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinct hybrid plant of the Cactaceae familysubstantially as herein shown and described.